November 22, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for November 22nd: Deuteronomy 8:7-18, Psalm 65, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19; Song: Now Thank We all our God UMH 102; Theme: Thanksgiving Deuteronomy: The people finally make it to the promised land. The scouts led them to a place where they would have abundant food. They are finally able to settle down and enjoy life. Moses reminds them not to forget about God just because they are not going through tough times. He reminds them that what they have is not because of their efforts, but God’s. We still make the mistake today of associating God with tough times. The only time we think to pray is when we need something. We may not always realize it, but we need God all of the time. It is important at this time of year to say thank you, but we have to let thankfulness be a regular part of life. Moses words are an important reminder for us today – the be thankful even when God leads us out of hard times. Corinthians: Paul is stressing how important it is to be willing to give as much as we can. The Jerusalem Christians were going through a famine, and Paul was trying to encourage the gentiles to be willing to give to help them. Like many of us, when we are struggling, the first place that we cut back on is our giving. We tell the church that we just don’t have it to give. Paul response is not to give sparingly. We are giving to God, not to people. We should always give God our best. God calls us to help those in need, and in turn God will provide for us. Thanksgiving is our chance to realize that all that we have is a gift from God. It is not ours to hoard. It was given to us, so that we can take care of ourselves and help others. questions: What times has God brought you through? Did you stop going to church and praying when things got better? How can you restore your relationship? What gifts have you received lately? How can you give to help others? How will you say Thank you during this Thanksgiving period?

November 8, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for November 8th: Joshua 24:1-3,14-25, Psalm 78:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13; Theme: Choose to be a disciple Song: 717 The Battle Hymn of the Republic Joshua: Moses has literally went to be with God, and the nation of the sons of Israel have to find a new leader. Joshua has been groomed for the job. When Joshua is ready to take over he personally goes to pray and to take his vows. Now he wants to include all of the people in his mission. He tells them that he has decided to follow God, and now each of them can choose, must choose to do the same. He does not want people to feel that they are being forced to follow God. It must be a choice. If it is a choice, then you will take it upon yourself to prepare to fulfiil that promise. They have made this choice twice before, but the third time they make it public and change their life in order to fit that choice. Matthew: Jesus continues to teach his disciples about faithfulness. These are the last teachings that Jesus will give them before he goes through his tribulation. This lesson is about endurance. This is the story of the 10 bridesmaids. They are all excited to be able to meet with the groom. 5 have enough oil to last through the night, and 5 do not. All of us who go to church want to consider ourselves faithful. But some of us give up more easily than others. When it really counts, we have already given up and walked away. We are easily discouraged. We are easily distracted. We are not very disciplined. Jesus is telling them to stay on course, to take faith serious, to study. We have gone this far, we have to have faith to make it to the finish line and to go all of the way. questions: When did you make a choice to become a Christian? How does making a choice for yourself help you? What are the things that discourage you about being faithful? What are the things that help you to keep focus?

November 1, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for November 1st: Revelation 7:9-17, Psalm 34:1-10,22; I John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12: Theme: All Saint’s Day; For All the Saints UMH 711 Revelation: The book of Revelation was written to a church in crisis. The world was falling apart, and people were looking to their faith for answers. John gave them a vision that was full of answers. Usually, we are afraid to look at the symbolism of Revelation. But it seems that this is a time when our society is at the end of our rope, and we are looking for answers to our faith. Revelation says that the faithful will not only get through the crisis, they will get their answers, they will also get their peace. John starts to describe heaven. He says that he sees a number that he could not count of people from all over the world. We have learned to put aside our differences and live together as a collective people. Interesting that the message is that only those who hold onto and live their faith will overcome the present crisis. Matthew: On All Saint’s Day we are given the beatitudes to ponder. Blessed are those people who hold onto their faith in a time of crisis. This is the same message that we get from the book of Revelation. Life is hard, we go through some challenges. We can let those challenges get the best of us, or we can overcome them. Just because life is hard for us, we are not supposed to make life hard for other people. The hardships of our life should inspire us to work to make life better for others. That is how we get to heaven. Heaven is a place beyond this life, but it is also a part of this life. Heaven is a place that is found in community. It is a life that we build together with others. Heaven is our reward for being faithful. When we are willing to be kind to others, that is when we are closest to God. questions: What crisis do you need to overcome in your life? What crisis would you like to see eliminated from the life of all people? What happens when you show kindness to others? What does it mean to be blessed?

October 4, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for October 4th: Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20; Psalm 19; Philippians 3:4-14; Matthew 21:33-46; Theme: World Communion Day; Song: One Bread One Body UMH 620 Exodus: The book of Exodus is an invitation to community. An invitation to a new community. It is an unknown journey into the future, with an opportunity to find God walking along side of you. Exodus 20 is the 10 commandments. One of the most important documents of our faith. It is important for us to connect this with the lessons from the chapters before. The Isrealites learned that God was with them by complaining about what they didn’t have. God provides, but first God says follow my directions. They complain again and God provides but says this is a test to see if you are listening. Once again God provides, and says these are my rules of community. The Ten commandments are rules to treat others in your community. The Ten Commandments are also a covenant – an agreement between us and God. We promise to obey these rules, God promises to provide in all situations. It is the basis of the church, but it is also the basis of our municipalities. Israelites means the Sons of Israel. It means it is a promise to be loyal to God. When we pledge that loyalty we give up loyalty to other things. But God also says that when God is first, all other things fall into place in our life. Matthew: The book of Isaiah refers to the vine and the vinegrower. It is clear that the vine is the community and the vine grower is God. Jesus knows that everyone would know this analogy. It was not uncommon for people to rent land from the owner to grow their grapes and olives. Jesus story is about horrible tenants and a frustrated manager of the lands. The tenants want to do what they want. – they become nonproductive for themselves and for the landowner. It is a reminder that we do not own anything in this world – it all belongs to God. We are the tenants, and sometime we really do get out of control and think we are most important and the things that we have belong to us. Jesus reminds us that one day, God will reclaim all that belongs to God including ourselves. Questions: Which of the 10 commandments is most important to you? Do you think these rules only apply to the faithful, or to the whole community? How do you feel about your possessions? Do they belong to God or you? What are you giving to God?

September 27, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for September 27th: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 78:1-4,12-16; Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32 Theme: God responds and asks us to trust him, Song: Come Thou Font of Every Blessing UMH 400 Exodus: This is a continuation of the story of the Israelites complaining and God providing for them. Last week they were hungry, this week they are thirsty for clean water. Moses strikes a rock and water comes out. But we also learn after this event that God is tired of them complaining and never forgives them. As a matter of fact, when asked why the people were banished from the promised land, God says because they never stopped complaining. It is only human to complain when things don’t go the way we expect them. But at some point we also have to look for solutions. We have to honor our covenant with God. We have to keep up our end of the bargain. There is nothing wrong with complaining to God, but we cant let that be an open door for despair and hopelessness. God always does something to make the situation better. We have to be intentional in trusting God. Matthew: Jesus has been teaching all over Israel. People are listening to what Jesus has to say. Jesus is encouraging them (and us) to think about life in a whole different way. To think about power in a whole new way. And to think about our place in life in a whole new way. Instead of looking for power in the leaders, look for power in the vulnerable people. Instead of a leader getting the best of life, the leader is the one who is in the trenches with everybody else. Instead of waiting for permission to speak, speak from the heart. Instead of looking for power in this world, look for power in the world to come. Jesus seems to be turning the world upside down with his teaching, which makes the authorities in the world even angrier. Jesus even says that those who we look down on, are closer to heaven then we are. We as Christians have no choice to think about what it means to be loyal to God. Is it in being important? Or is it in being giving and humble? What would Jesus do in our situation? Questions: What are your present complaints to God? What is it that you need to entrust to God? Does being a Christian challenge your social status with other people? How do we need to change our hearts and minds today?

September 20, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for September 20th: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105”1-6, 37-45; Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16, Theme: The Lord will provide in all situations; Song: And are we yet alive UMH 553 Exodus: It seems universal, that when situations get difficult, that people tend to get angry and tend to take their frustrations out on the people around them. When God calls the Isrealites out of bondage and into freedom in the desert; the people don’t see the freedom all they see is the hardship. They have to adjust to a new way of living, and at every challenge they ask why – why are they here. The are blaming Moses and Aaron for leading them out here. But it is God who speaks and says that they are okay and that God intends to take care of them. In response to the cries of the people God sends bread and quail for them to eat. When God provides, God tells them not to get greedy and store up what they have. God also sends a light, a presence to be with them throughout all circumstances so that they know they are not alone. That still does not stop the complaining. In this verse alone the people complain about 14 different things. The good news is that God hears their complaints all 14 times. The bad news is that God holds the complaining against them for a very long time. Philippians: Most of us don’t want to think about the day that we die. Today I am mourning the loss of a facebook friend, whom I enjoyed his post. The last post that he gave was mourning the loss of a friend, and celebrating that he was a cancer survivor. A friend came into his office to go to a funeral and found him slumped in his chair. He died at the hospital hours later. Death has taken away his life, but not his legacy. When Paul writes this letter, he is imprisoned. He has come to terms with the fact that he may be killed while he is in custody. He is okay with that, so he says the he will be present with God in life and in death. Less than two years later, he is indeed killed. He realizes that the mission that he has started in the church will go on long past his death. He is encouraging all of us who follow Christ to do all that we can while we are alive, and to realize that Christ will still be with us when we complete our mission. Paul wants to encourage us all to keep going forward, and the know that Christ has already won our battle. Questions: Have you ever complained to God about something? What was it? What was God’s response to you? How is God present in difficult situations? Have you made preparations for the day you die? What do you hope others when carry on when you are dead?

September 13, 2020

Breaking Open the Scripture Scripture for September 13th: Exodus 14:19-31, Exodus 15:1-11,20-21; Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35; Theme: God loves us no matter where we are in life Song: Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah UMH 127 Romans: As Paul gets to the ending chapters of Romans Jesus is calling all of us to put the love that we learned into action. Love is not just about being nice to strangers, it is about learning to accept church members that really get on our nerves. It is about learning to understand that even when we are united in Christ, we are different people, we live different lives, we see life differently. And God loves us all equally. The Roman church would have been a diverse group of people. Paul was reminding them and us all that Jesus established the church to be a place where people can learn to accept each other no matter what. Paul says that every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. I always wonder how that is going to happen with so many different religions. But all things are possible with God aren’t they? If God can solve the differences in the world, he will also solve the differences in our church. Matthew: When we practice the law of love, inevitable someone is going to take advantage of us, and get us to become resentful. When we are tolerating people that we do not understand, or don’t know inevitably we are going to get offended. That is why love and forgiveness go hand in hand. Forgiveness has been a lesson for the last two lessons. Jesus explains that we will never be above forgiveness, it is a continuous practice. When we forgive, we are not doing the other person a favor. It frees us from burden. Jesus also reminds us that just as we need to forgive others, we must not forget that we may have done that and more to someone else. If they are willing to forgive us, we can surely forgive others. We should be working to free everyone from the burden of hurting others. Sin is just missing the mark. Forgiveness helps us to get back on track. Questions: What are some of the diversity present in our church? How do we build bridges to understand strangers? Who do you need to forgive? Who needs to forgive you?